26 How To Make Fish Mounts 



asbestos— depending on where the work is taking place— com- 

 pletely around it to the mid-line ( Fig. 7 ) . On a fish the size of 

 a 15-inch bass or trout, the shelf should extend out 3 or 4 inches. 

 Cut two V-shaped keys or recesses ( Fig. 8 ) along each side of 

 this shelf. Keys will facilitate easier adjoinment of the halves 

 later. If the lacquer system is used for the slime problem, now 

 is the time to use it. Before the plaster is mixed, the lacquer 

 will be ready to receive the plaster. 



Mold of Open Mouth. With smaller fishes the mold of the 

 mouth can be included with the first half of the mold by simply 

 pushing plaster into the mouth. In this case use care when re- 

 moving the original fish from the mold so that the plaster, which 

 forms the mold of the mouth, is not broken off. If it does break 

 off, however, it can be glued back before casting the fish. After 

 the cast is produced, the plaster in the mouth is dug out with 

 appropriate small tools. 



With a large fish, however, such as a 50-pound striped bass, 

 it is better to make a separate mold of the mouth. Before apply- 

 ing plaster to the show side of the fish, push a heavy mixture of 

 plaster well into the mouth. Allow it to set and apply sterine 

 separator. After the mold of the whole fish has been completed, 

 the mold of the mouth can then be separated from it. 



Applying Plaster. If the plaster is mixed in a large pan, use a 

 smaller bowl to scoop up the plaster and convey it to the speci- 

 men. Flow the plaster over the fish evenly ( Fig. 9 ) . I prefer to 

 apply the plaster by hand. Start at either the head or tail end 

 and continue along. Do not skip from one part of the fish to the 

 other. Be sure the plaster flows to the edges of the shelf so that 

 no air pockets are formed. The entire fish should be covered 

 quickly with a thin coat, often called the "splash coat." Then, 

 the entire shelf should be covered also. Start immediately again 

 on one end and flow the remainder of the plaster over the entire 

 fish. Enough plaster should be mixed in the first batch to cover 

 the fish and the shelf to about a depth of % inch. Do not disturb 

 the mold until it sets, usuallv about an hour. Notice that the 



